Acer has revealed a sexy new devicesk which is currently the thinnest some tasty-looking new laptops, one of which is the most slender notebook ever produced – the first in the world to measure less than 1cm thick – along with a convertible that utilizes a 360-degree hinge for the ultimate in flexibility. As mentioned, […]

Acer has revealed a sexy new devicesk which is currently the thinnest some tasty-looking new laptops, one of which is the most slender notebook ever produced – the first in the world to measure less than 1cm thick – along with a convertible that utilizes a 360-degree hinge for the ultimate in flexibility.

As mentioned, the Acer Swift 7 is the first laptop to dip under the 1cm barrier, Acer notes, with the device measuring 9.98mm – which is getting down to tablet-like levels – and unsurprisingly it doesn’t weigh much either at 1.1kg.

It has an all-aluminum unibody chassis with a rather smart looking black and gold color scheme, and the Swift 7 boasts a 13.3-inch IPS screen with a full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) fashioned from Gorilla Glass.

Spec-wise, this might be a lean machine, but it’s mean enough in terms of power with an Intel Core i5 Kaby Lake processor on board backed by up to 8GB of system memory and a 256GB SSD.

In terms of connectivity, there are two USB 3.1 ports and 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MU-MIMO (router technology which allows for a better connection when using multiple devices wirelessly).

As for battery life, Acer claims you get up to 9 hours with this model.

The Swift 7 is the premium offering, but there are others in the range which weigh in with cheaper price tags.

ASUS has launched the Zenbook 3 which is a shockingly sexy thin and light Notebook that weighs in at only 910 grams. If you’ve been thinking about picking up one of these portless wonders but wanted Windows 10 you’re going to be drooling over this device (especially when you find out how much it costs!) […]

ASUS has launched the Zenbook 3 which is a shockingly sexy thin and light Notebook that weighs in at only 910 grams. If you’ve been thinking about picking up one of these portless wonders but wanted Windows 10 you’re going to be drooling over this device (especially when you find out how much it costs!)

Design wise ASUS has stuck with the “spun metal” which we’re huge fans of and now the ZenFone 3 Deluxe has a Notebook to match. It’s available in “Quartz Grey,” “Royal Blue,” and “Rose Gold.” (which we mistook for silver until we saw the keyboard, that is clearly pink).

The Zenbook 3 is a 12.5 inch Windows 10 beast that is not only light thanks to a new “aerospace-grade aluminum alloy,” which it says is 40 percent stronger than what you usually find on laptops. Not only has the Zenbook 3 lost 0.6 pounds since pound from the last generation it’s also added in a Core i7 processor which makes it 1.5 times faster than the MacBook.

The specifications for the Zenbook 3 are pretty impressive considering it’s size and the fact that it does have a fan. ASUS says it’s developed the “world’s thinnest” fan at just 3mm.

At the top end, you’ll be able to configure it with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB PCIe SSD (which should be faster than a typical SATA drive). The display is covered in Gorilla Glass 4, and it looks like Asus was also able to slim down the bezel (now it covers 82 percent of the laptop’s front). The ZenBook 3 packs in a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port for charging (which it says can juice the laptop’s battery up to 60 percent in 49 minutes), and it should last around 9 hours of typical battery life.

There’s also a built-in fingerprint sensor with Windows Hello support.

The ZenBook 3 will start at $999 with a Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. Stepping up, you can get it with a 512GB SSD for $1,499, and you can add a Core i7 processor, 1TB SSD and 16GB of RAM for $1,999. ASUS isn’t talking about availability details yet. We’ll definitely be paying attention to this ultraportable.

The Notebook hasn’t changed much since the first design way back in 1981 when the Zilog Z80 a 23.6 lbs clam shell device was released. These productivity power houses have gotten thinner, more powerful, with all day battery life and are now extremely affordable. With the rise of the tablet we’ve started seeing 2-in-1 computers […]

The Notebook hasn’t changed much since the first design way back in 1981 when the Zilog Z80 a 23.6 lbs clam shell device was released. These productivity power houses have gotten thinner, more powerful, with all day battery life and are now extremely affordable. With the rise of the tablet we’ve started seeing 2-in-1 computers where the screen detaches from the keyboard leaving you with a tablet. At Intel’s Developer Conference we learned about what manufacturers are designing into their next generation of computers, and what compromises you’ll be making if you go for a 2-in-1 over a notebook.

Is the Detachable 2-in-1 right for you?

Fitting all of this into a 2-in-1 with a detachable display isn’t going to be easy. This isn’t just a notebook with a display instead of a keyboard, it’s a totally redesigned machine that may or may not meet your needs.

A detachable 2-in-1 is just that, the screen detaches from the keyboard. Imaging a traditional notebook, but instead of a keyboard they’ve placed a display. In a normal notebook has all it’s working parts in the base, in a detachable 2-in-1, they are in the display.

If you’re thinking of going for one of these new designs there are somethings you should try to be aware of. Since the processor and display are in the same device managing the thermal design is the main challenge. Connectivity is also something that should be heavily tested since the antennas and high speed components are in close proximity, the drives require shielding. Performance in tablet mode is reduced in order to keep heat. When manufacturers are designing a detchable 2-in-1 they are designing for tablet first usage, meaning that everything revolves around making the experience comfortable to use in your hand.

Questions to ask when purchasing a 2-in-1

If you are considering a detachable 2-in-1 checking our the systems thermal design, be sure to ask: where is the battery located? Is it right where you’ll be placing your hand? How well has the company done managing the performance? When you dock the tablet into the keyboard, it should allow the processor to run higher and the system to get hotter, since you won’t be holding it.

The downside of the 2-in-1

One thing that should be noted that isn’t in to the future of the detachable 2-in-1 is that the table will never get wireless charging, that will only happen in the base. The tablet will also never have good audio, the audio codecs are in the base and honestly, I have yet to come across a detachable 2-in-1 that has decent audio.

Why you should love USB Type C

USB Type C is going to allow for thinner form factors. The Macbook has paved the way for wide spread adoption and taken the heat for forcing the consumer into a world of dongles. What we should remember is that a no wires future is upon us, and having a single connector is focusing the need for multiple cables. You’ll be able to charge, dock, send lots of data, hook up audio, attach external display’s. There isn’t much that you won’t be able to do with this connector, so don’t whinge too much about buying cables or dongles, you’ll be using them for a while.

The Future of the Notebook

When looking at the future of the notebook, it’s all about refining the experience that we’ve got. We can increase productivity by attaching additional display’s, instead of pluging in, that will happen wirelessly. Dropping all wires including those for charging and docking is almost here. Instead of typing in a password you’ll be able to use your face to log in. Convience is key and making what we have work seamlessly with our work flow is what we’re all waiting for.

If you’re looking for something a tad more exciting, we’ve seen the addition of secondary eInk display’s on the backs of notebooks. Eye Tracking and Gestures for controlling are actually already here. Intel’s Real Sense is shipping and out there in the real world. Only, we’re just at the beginning of that journey, we have yet to have a standard set of gesture controls which is why the general public is being introduced slowly, with features like face unlock.

A few months back I got to sit down with Anil Nanduri , Director of Perceptual Products & Solutions at Intel about the future of human computer interaction.

The 2-in-1 detachable isn’t going to be for everyone, if you’re thinking about picking one up, you should be sure that the tablet form factor is of primary importance and not something that might be useful on occasion. If you’re only needing it sometimes, you might want to consider an attached 2-in-1, they aren’t much heavier and have a more refined design.

]]>http://www.mobilegeeks.com/article/detchable-2-in-1-vs-the-notebook-a-peak-at-the-future/feed/128576Take a walk with us through the Computex 2015 show floorhttp://www.mobilegeeks.com/walk-through-computex-2015-show-floor/
http://www.mobilegeeks.com/walk-through-computex-2015-show-floor/#respondFri, 05 Jun 2015 19:33:12 +0000http://www.mobilegeeks.com/?p=27922

I have always said huge tech conventions feel a bit like those hazy party nights that blur out into small memories of significant events, with no recollection of what happened in between. Computex is certainly not the exception. One moment you are looking at the latest tech gadgets, the next you are taking a picture […]

I have always said huge tech conventions feel a bit like those hazy party nights that blur out into small memories of significant events, with no recollection of what happened in between. Computex is certainly not the exception.

One moment you are looking at the latest tech gadgets, the next you are taking a picture with a booth babe, all of a sudden you are winning an iPod at a raffle, then you are having a drink with your favorite company’s CEO, and then you find yourself playing with a $10,000 gaming machine. And you never quite know how you got from one situation to the next.

I believe it’s something any geek should experience at some point in their lives, but we also know it’s not easy to get in these events without being part of the industry. This is why we decided to give you a small tour of one of the halls at Computex 2015.

Keep in mind this is only one hall (a small one, at that), and you are only seeing about a 10th of it. This event is massive! We take a look at a few manufacturers, booth babes and cosplayers. What else could you ask for? Join us and get a small taste of what Computex really is.

ASLL is showcasing the trippiest computer I have ever seen. They call it the Win-Wings YS1, and what makes it unique is that it comes with a dual-monitor set-up! Just think about it. Have you ever tried to get real work done with just one screen? Having only one display really pushes you back in […]

ASLL is showcasing the trippiest computer I have ever seen. They call it the Win-Wings YS1, and what makes it unique is that it comes with a dual-monitor set-up!

Just think about it. Have you ever tried to get real work done with just one screen? Having only one display really pushes you back in terms of productivity, even if that one screen is large. It’s easy to buy another monitor and set it up in your office, but what about those times you have to travel or move around throughout the day?

You are definitely not going to carry your monitor around, and that is why I think the ASLL Win-Wings YS1 is such an awesome concept. This thing has a a couple 15.6-inch screens that fold open and dock into a keyboard. Mind… blown.

And this is no lame computer either. You can totally use this for editing and all kinds of tasks. It sports a 3.1 GHz Intel Core i7 Haswell processor, 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of internal storage and all the ports you can expect. The only downside I can find is that the 15.6-inch screens only have a 1366x768p resolution. This makes sense, though, as this is more of a work machine.

When the hell can we buy this? We are not sure, but we do know it will cost a mighty 18,000 Chinese Yuan. That equals to about $2,900 USD! Yep… this computer won’t be cheap, but it may be worth it if you work on-the-go a lot.

The average consumer would pass by this laptop and see nothing but an average computer. In fact, many would go as far as totally dismissing it, but we looked deeper into it and found out it’s a very special apparatus. In fact, it’s a first of a kind in a couple ways. We didn’t go […]

The average consumer would pass by this laptop and see nothing but an average computer. In fact, many would go as far as totally dismissing it, but we looked deeper into it and found out it’s a very special apparatus. In fact, it’s a first of a kind in a couple ways.

We didn’t go into too much detail about the functionality of this 11.6-inch Chromebook. After all, it’s simply Chrome OS. Nothing special in the software side. What did impress is what comes inside this innovative laptop.

This is the very first time we see a MediaTek processor in a Chromebook. It’s a MediaTek MT8173 64-bit quad-core SoC, to be exact. This is history, guys. And it’s likely just a reference design, but we now know MediaTek is trying to expand its reach.

To be honest, this makes total sense. MediaTek processors continue to improve and become more powerful, but the real catch here is that Chromebooks don’t need that much power to begin with. And MediaTek processors would definitely cost less than an Intel chip, which would translate to lower retail prices for consumers.

We have recently found out Chromebooks are the next step for MediaTek, which has been in talks with partners in order to make its way into Chromebooks by the end of the year. Will this be one? We doubt it, but MediaTek probably wanted to have this ready so that manufacturers can see what their chips can do.

By the way, this is also the first Chromebook to sport a USB-C connector. I am officially calling Computex 2015 the event of the USB-C boom, but that is a story for later. For now we can tell you we are pretty excited to see what MediaTek can do with Chrome OS devices.

Remember the Dell XPS 13 we saw at CES? Well, the popular PC manufacturer is back with a bigger. It’s just as sexy and powerful, and we got a chance to spend some close time with it, so we wanted to share our excitement as soon as possible. Now, there is one sad part. We […]

Remember the Dell XPS 13 we saw at CES? Well, the popular PC manufacturer is back with a bigger. It’s just as sexy and powerful, and we got a chance to spend some close time with it, so we wanted to share our excitement as soon as possible.

Now, there is one sad part. We can’t really tell you very much about the computer. Dell is keeping amazingly quiet about the specs and they are not telling us a thing. All we really know is that it is “Windows 10-ready” and should come with a Skylake CPU.

Of course, the external characteristics do tell us a bit about the computer. We know it has the same design we saw on the XPS 13. It’s really the same concept. The body is super sleek and the bezels are nearly non-existent.

This happens to be the touch version, so we are expecting to see a very high definition panel on it. Likewise, the chasis is very high end, featuring a carbon fiber material that is strong, light and super good looking. Not to mention that glass track pad, which should work like a charm.

On the right side of the computer we can find a USB 3.0 port and a full-size SD card slot. Meanwhile, the left side of the XPS 15 is equipped with another USB 3.0 port, a power plug, an HDMI port, a USB-C connection and a 3.5 mm headset jack.

We are not sure about pricing and availability, of course, but we do think this baby should be released sometime later this year. I mean, it would only make sense. Dell probably wants to get in on the Windows 10 craze early.

What do you think of the Dell XPS 15? We may not know much, but we can assure you it will be powerful. And you already know it’s gorgeous and has a high-end construction. The larger screen will also be great for productivity. Are you thinking of getting one?

You are probably familiar with the name HP Pavilion 10 X2. That’s because this convertible tablet was introduced last year and HP decided not to change the name for the newer iteration. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s the same device. In fact, they are completely different. HP Pavilion 10 X2 specs Windows 10 OS 10.1-inch […]

You are probably familiar with the name HP Pavilion 10 X2. That’s because this convertible tablet was introduced last year and HP decided not to change the name for the newer iteration. Now, that doesn’t mean it’s the same device. In fact, they are completely different.

HP Pavilion 10 X2 specs

Windows 10 OS

10.1-inch 1366x768p display

Intel Atom X7 8700 Cherry Trail processor

2 GB of RAM

32 GB of internal storage

12 hours of battery life

Around 800 grams (including the keyboard)

As you can see, we can’t get all the details just yet. This is because HP hasn’t really announced this device and it’s pretty much a prototype. This means it could very well be changed before it goes official, but we must say the device looks pretty close to final.

For starters, this is night and day compared to its predecessor. This tablet comes with a sturdy keyboard dock you will actually love, as opposed to that lame keyboard case the other version had. The processor was also upgraded to Intel’s Cherry Trail architecture (coming from Bay Trail).

The keyboard is also pretty good, as the magnets that connect it to the tablet are strong and solid. We also love that HP was able to provide good space between keys and all buttons seem to be the right size. That’s a hard feat to accomplish with any 10-inch tablet.

Another big change is the addition of that USB-C port. It seems all manufacturers are jumping on this new technology. It works for data transfer and other features, but it’s also the tablet’s main charging source. Keep that in midn when getting your accessories and converters.

And of course, we also have no pricing and availability information on this prototype tablet. Hopefully some news on it will be unveiled soon!

We are at Computex 2015 taking a look at everything the event has to offer. We have been showing you a plethora of new devices and wanted to add Acer’s new 2-in-1 tablet to the list. Enter the Acer Aspire Switch 10 V, a new higher-end version over the Switch 10. There’s no question that […]

We are at Computex 2015 taking a look at everything the event has to offer. We have been showing you a plethora of new devices and wanted to add Acer’s new 2-in-1 tablet to the list.

Enter the Acer Aspire Switch 10 V, a new higher-end version over the Switch 10. There’s no question that it’s better than the predecessor, but what we really want to find out is whether it’s good enough to take a spot in your bag.

This 2-in-1 tablet is actually quite a stunning little device. It performs relatively well and should take care of most casual tasks. We would love to see a higher-end version with more RAM and storage, but that is another thing Acer is staying pretty quiet about.

What we do know is that this is a very well built device many of you will enjoy. The build quality is awesome, as the tablet has a metallic back. The experience doesn’t deteriorate when the tablet is docked into the keyboard, either. In fact, the whole thing is pretty solid.

We were surprised to find that Acer’s removable keyboard is very sturdy and doesn’t really bend when you apply reasonable force on it. We would go as far as saying they did a better job than ASUS did on their recent removable keyboards. We may not like the positioning and size of the shift keys, but that is a whole other story.

As it goes with most other tablets and laptops at Computex 2015, we don’t know anything about pricing and availability. This device comes pre-loaded with Windows 8.1, though, which means it should be ready to hit the market relatively soon.

The Acer Aspire Switch 10 V is more than an acceptable tablet/netbook. It has good power, a solid design and functionality of both a tablet and a laptop. Hopefully we will get to learn more about it soon, and you can be sure we will pass the knowledge on to you when that happens.

Not happy with the ASUS Transformer Book T100HA? The Taiwanese manufacturer has something else you may be more fond off. It’s the ASUS Transformer Book Flip TP200, and while you can’t remove the screen from the keyboard, it’s still possible to get a tablet experience by flipping it around 360 degrees. Talk about turning things […]

Not happy with the ASUS Transformer Book T100HA? The Taiwanese manufacturer has something else you may be more fond off. It’s the ASUS Transformer Book Flip TP200, and while you can’t remove the screen from the keyboard, it’s still possible to get a tablet experience by flipping it around 360 degrees.

Talk about turning things around. This little laptop is a convertible netbook that will definitely not disappoint. Let’s run you through the specs before we tell you a bit more about it.

This little guy works just fine. It can take care of most casual tasks and maybe even some light gaming. It’s no performance machine, but it’s really not meant to be. We can assume this little guy will be pretty cheap when it hits the market, and affordability is something we all like.

The convertible laptop also feels pretty solid. The screen part of the device has a metallic hinge and everything else feels sturdy. There are no loose parts and the track pad seems to work wonderfully.

We still have no knowledge on pricing and availability. We will have to wait until later for those details, but right now we can tell you this could be a great product for students, casual users and road warriors.